Federal authorities say an Atlanta airline employee is suspected of helping smuggle firearms to New York City on passenger jets.

FBI spokesman Stephen Emmett said Monday that Delta baggage handler Eugene Harvey was arrested by federal agents without trouble.

An FBI affidavit says Mark Quentin Henry, a former Delta employee who was fired in 2010, was arrested in New York on Dec. 10 in a gun trafficking investigation after an undercover agent bought a gun from one of his accomplices.

“Security is only as good as the people providing that security,” said Manny Gomez, a security expert.

And it seems there is a major security loophole for Delta flights from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport to JFK Airport in Queens.

Earlier this month, investigators in New York arrested a Delta baggage handler, Harvey, who allegedly arranged for the transport of 18 firearms and ammunition inside a carry-on bag, seven of those guns were loaded.

“People have to be policed. There have to be several levels of security and protection so that this doesn’t occur again. This was way too easily done,” Gomez said.

“Security, you have to take everything off. They double check your bags. He must have known somebody on the inside,” said Allister Gibbs, an airline traveler.

Investigators say the Delta employee somehow got the weapons past security, then used a men’s bathroom to hand off the bag of firearms to a ticketed “gun-runner”. The armed passenger then boarded Delta flight 2352 and flew from Atlanta to New York.

On December 10th, authorities arrested the gun-runner who then shared the details of the gun trafficking operation.

“It doesn’t inspire confidence in the people who are monitoring this,” said Adam Rankin, an airline traveler.

An airlines spokesperson issued a statement saying, “Delta is cooperating with authorities in this investigation. We take seriously any activity that fails to uphold our strict commitment to the safety and security of our customers and employees.”

Authorities investigated Henry’s cellphone, airport surveillance video and security records and determined that he conspired with Harvey to get the firearms past security.

The FBI affidavit says there is probable cause to charge Harvey with trafficking firearms, aiding and abetting and more. It’s unclear if he has an attorney.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)